6 minute read
this is: stonebwoy
Stonebwoy Burniton Born Livingstone Etse Satekla, Stonebwoy is a Ghanaian Afro pop, dancehall and reggae artiste who hails from the Volta Region. He was born on March 5, 1988 in Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra, and places fourth in a family of seven siblings.
As far back as grade four, young Stonebwoy realized his love and passion for creative arts, having successfully scripted and acted for the drama club of his school and also put words together in a rhythmic manner. Since then, the young chap has never stopped singing both songs that he has written and composed and those by artists he is influenced by.
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In an industry flooded with people trying out a number of things in a bid to establishing their identity, Stonebwoy stands as one unique artiste with a sense of direction and purpose. His two albums (currently available on iTunes) Grade #1 and Necessary Evil are captivating debut that heralds the arrival of a gifted and significant artist, marking his territory. He recorded his first track in a family studio a decade ago. Thence, Stonebwoy has never looked back.
S T O N E B W O Y
Q: What inspired you to initially do music?
A: Growing up around music, you realize you are attracted to everything in music. There’s never a dull moment when you are around music. You can only realize what you have is a gift when you are growing up and when people are pointing your gift out to you even more you begin to realize your talents. The origin of African music is storytelling, so when I compose I want to make sure I am telling a story and evoke emotion and that is what I’ve wanted to do since a young age.
Q: How would you describe your creative music making process?
A: When I create my music, it involves a lot of thinking and processing. I think about what I want to say in the song, what I’m saying in the song, am I going to dance on this song, am I going to move a heart with this song, am I going to touch someone’s mind with my song, am I going to pump more fuel into someone’s spirituality with this song. This is all things I consider before dropping a song or not. I think that up to now, I am still growing with that. I have not arrived yet. I consider myself an ever growing artist. I see myself as developing because my task is broad. I can not only be considered as an Afrobeats artist. If I was, I may have finished or have gotten to a point where I have reached my peak. In reality, I am a total artist and musician. I am a afro-beat artist, a reggae artist as well. I’m a musician that loves to do music of black origin. Yea mon’!
Q: Where do you see yourself in a year? In 5 years?
A: I remember getting asked this question many times before. I usually say I don’t know, I’m not sure. Geographically, I would say that I would be in Accra, Ghana or the states, but I would say I want to get further in what I’m doing and be able to become a renowned name that represents for the musical arts. I hope that when my name is mentioned people are proud to know I contributed to creativity, and the creation of music as an African who was able to touch base on the diaspora, home and abroad. That is all I wish for and it may take more than 5 years to achieve so probably, every 5 years the mission remains the same so then I pray for energy and divine direction to fuel the course. Because so many other forces can make your mission not happen. As much as I do music, I want to continue to expand and it take a lot of factors to make that happen. I pray that nothing stops at a point where I’m not able to fulfill being a fulfilled name when it comes to African music.
Q: How do you feel about the recent American popularization of Afrobeats?
A: As time is revealing itself, it is very interesting to see this come to life. We are headed in a direction where it is now “cool” to be African and everyone loves Afrobeats. It is very interesting to see this shift because it happens all the time. Last year, everyone wanted to be Jamaican and Caribbean. This year, everyone wants to be African. It’s a cycle.
Q: What elements of Africa influence your style and music?
A: Africa as a whole is seen as a picture to me, but Ghana is a feeling because I lived there. Unfortunately, there is a struggle, from the things we see, how the media portrays us, how the international media wants us to look in the eyes of everyone else and the eyes of our own selves. So much that when we look into the mirror we hate what we see. All of these things have added up to my inspiration to compose. Music should have a back story and a message to it. From what the negative messages the media portrays to us, you wouldn’t know the positives and rich culture that Africa has. People don’t know that Africa feeds the world in several ways. All of these things inspire and influence my music and style and to represent Africa in a positive light. No matter what I’m doing, I want to make sure that I represent myself and where I come from and my people.
There’s one human race but I don’t expect the white race to look out for the black race so that fuels me to represent my people positively. If I have love, I can give love!
Q: With your platform, how have you made that happen. Giving back, sharing your message, etc.?
A: I have come to a level where much is expected of me from the public, but from myself as well. We live in a system where the more you make, the more they collect from you. I don’t have it all but I make sure to share with my foundation and several forms. I want to help people transform their lives. Once people get to understand more about me, I hope that I can inspire them.
Q: What do you say to people who say that you are their dream collaboration?
A: It is good to know that people feel that you’re somebody that can help them with their goals. They have to realize that they own themselves and I would say that I’m just a catalyst that will help propel them to the next level.
Q: Who would be your dream collaboration?
A: Rihanna, for now! My mind is very open when it comes to collaborations because everyday there are fresh spirits that arise with an amazing message and an amazing voice so you just never know. Your voice is your instrument and you can add whatever vibes to the song to make a dope track.
but it’s all about them. It depends on them more than it depends on me.
Q: How have you been able to balance your family life and music?
A: It’s not an easy one because I came from being an underground artist, alone, to being in a relationship, to married, now with kids, so you only experience it when you are fully in it. Everyday I’m living and I’m learning from it. My ultimate goal is to keep my family intact, happy, and smiling so that they can keep me going. They are my motivation. You have to stay focused and keep going.
Q: What do you care about outside of music? Any hobbies?
A: Family. I make time for family. Sometimes you just have to choose. Once a upon a time when I didn’t have that family dynamic, I had more time but being with my family is my hobby. Time fills up when other parts of you are growing so the most valuable to me is my family. When I call my wife and speak to my little daughter and laugh and share moments. That is a hobby for me. You should find a hobby from your family dynamic. Parenting is work and I’m finding hobbies based around my family to give me happiness. But besides that I might play video games, sometimes. But I try to find joy in the things I do, you never really need hobbies.
Q: How do you practice selfcare and maintain your wellbeing?
A: The power, drive and motivation has to come from within you and the people you surround yourself with. I make sure there is a balance and that I am at peace with everyone. I keep a positive and trouble free self so that I can create, think and give, because what I do is very demanding trying to cater to everyone is difficult. Sleep, wake up, create, and plan what’s next and improve myself. I try to keep it simple and try to be me. I need to be strong to continue on!
- Stonebwoy
